Parallel-ruler.



Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

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W/TNESSES INVENTOI? ATTO/iwf ys m REW B. GRAHAM cu, Pwlunwnwms. wAseunGmN, n c

F. W. STERLING. PARALLEL RULER.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 2z,

Arretented Sept. 28, 1909.

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w/TA/EssEs W L A 7TOHNEYS DNI i FRANK WARD sTERLiNG, oF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

PARALLEL-nonna. Y

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK XV. STERLING, otl the United States llavy, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county ot Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Parallel-Ruler, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to drafting instruments, and its object is to provide a new and improved parallel ruler, more especially designed tor the use of navigatore and other persons, to permit them to accurately and quickly transfer parallel lines when translating courses on a chart.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters ot reference indicate corrr-sponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a plan view ot the improvenient, parts of the roller being in section and the roller and straight edge' being spaced apart; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, showing the straight edge in contact with the roller; and Fig. 3 is a plan view ot' the improvement applied for laying vout a course through a certain point from a compass on a chart.

A roller A of a suitablematerial and size is provided centrally at its ends with bushings B engaged by trunnions C of a fork C2 held on the end of a handle C, adapted to be taken hold of by an operator, for rolling the roller A over a chart or the like. A straight edge D is used in connection with the roller A, and this straight edge is ot a suitable length and is provided with a tiat base or a bottom D, an inclined front D2 and a back D3 having a concave recess D4, extending throughout the length of the back and beginning a distance above the bottom D, so that the recess is approximately in aline'- ment with the front peripheral t'ace of the roller A, as indicated in Fig. 2. Now when the straight edge D is fitted onto the roller A, as shown in Fig. 2, then the front edge D ot the straight edge D is parallel with the axis ot the roller A, and when the roller A is rolled over the surface ot a chart or the like with the straight edge litted on the roller, then the straight edge D is moved Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 22, 1908.

Patented Sept. 2S, 19MB.

Serial No. 454,134.

along to a desired position and which is parallel to its original position.

n using the device, for instance, for translating a course to and through a given point E' on a chart (see Fig. 3), then the operator places the straight edge D with its edge D5 onto the desired course indicated on the compass F arranged on the chart, and then the roller A is run into the recess DL while the straight edge D is held firmly in position, so that the axis of the roller A is now parallel with the edge D". The straight edge D is now removed from the chart and the roller A is run over the surface of the chart until it is near to the point E, and then the straight edge D is again engaged with the roller A and the latter is moved forward over the chart until the edge D5 passes through the point E, and a line can now be drawn along the edge D5, to indicate the desired course through the point E.

in case the roller A. while being rolled over the chart toward the point E should meet an obstruction (i, such as a. weight Alor holding the chart to a table, then the roller A is run to within a distance of the obstruction G, and then the straight edge D is applied on the roller and held firmly in place on the chart, after which the roller is shifted from the position on the right otl lthe middle dotted portion of Fig. 3 to the left on the straight edge, after which the straight edge is removed and the roller is pushed forward, and then the straight edge D is re-applied on the roller and moved torward until the edge passes through the point E, the same as previously explained.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the parallel ruler is very simple in construction and permits accurate and quick transferring of parallel lines from a compass to a desired point, as above described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: i

l. A parallel ruler, comprising a handled roller, and a separate straight edge having a flat bottom and a back at right angles to the bottom, said back being provided with a concave recess for the periphe 'al face of the roller to tit in, whereby the straight edge can be readily engaged with and disengaged from the roller and when engaged thereby will be held parallel with the axis ot' said roller and can be moved bodily ov a snrt'ace l'iyoperating the roller.

2.- A. parallel ruler, comprising a handled rolle-1", and a separate straight edge having a flat bottom and a back at right angles to the bottom, said back being provided With a concave recess for the peripheral face of the roller to lit in, the recess beginning a distance above the bottom of the straight edge.

3. A parallel ruler, comprising a handled roller, and a separate straight edge having a flat bottom, an inclined iront and a back at right angles to the bottom, said back being provided With a concave recess for the peripheral face of the roller to it in, the recess beginning a distance above the bottom of the straight edge and extending throughout the length of the back.

l: In a ruler Yof the character described, a straight edge comprising a body having an inclined front, a flat bottom, and a back at right angles to the bottom and having a longitudinally extending concave recess therein, said recess extending from a short distance from the bottom of the body to the top of the same and adapted to receive a roller to permit the straight edge to be moved over a surface thereby.

In testimony whereofl I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANK TARD STERLNG. lVitnesses (l1-IAS. M. JAMES, J. F. OMonA. 

